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. Patented July 26, I898.

C. 8. SMITH.

UBSTETRICAL APPARATUS (Application filed'Dec. 6, 1897.;

(No Model.)

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OBSTETRICAL APPARATUS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 608,083, dated July 26, 1898.

Application filed December 6, 1897. Serial No. 660,853. (No model.)

' To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, CHARLES SHERMAN SMITH, of the city and county of Providence, in the State of Rhode Island, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Ob-' stetrical Apparatus; and I declare the following to be a specification thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

Like letters indicate like parts.

Figure l is a perspective view showing my improved apparatus secured by straps to the bedand to the leg of the patient thereon lying in position for delivery. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of my invention.

the direction of the arrows indicated at the ends of said line. Fig. 4 is a view of said apparatus as seen on line y 'y of Fig. 2 in the direction indicated by the arrows there. Fig. 5 is a detail View on line 2 z of Fig. 2.

My invention is a device or apparatus useful to an accoucheur in childbirth; and it consists of a receptacle having rigid sides and a flexible bottom attached to said sides, with a flexible discharge-tube, and provided with straps connected to said sides and adapted to be secured to the bed or bedding and to the patients leg for the purpose of holding said receptacle in snug contact with the leg and firmly in position upon the bed, said receptacle being made of detachable parts for convenience in packing when not in use.

The receptacle is made with four rigid sides of any suitable material, preferably aluminium. These sides I designate in the drawings as A, B, O, and D, each preferably about two inches wide and about ten inches long. The side or strip A has a flange or lip a, terminating in a projection a at its end, and the outer edge of the flange or lip a is curved and shaped, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, to conform to the thigh and buttock of the patient. The inner edge ofthe flange a is rounded, as indicated by the shading in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 and in section in Fig. 4 at a .Said strip or piece A has a longitudinal groove itswhole length upon the outside just under the flange (6, as indicated by dotted lines in Fig. 2 and as seen in section inFig. 4. ,On the inside of the strip A, near the projection a, is a Fig.3 is a view. of the same as seen on line 00 as of Fig. 2 in metallic flap a secured thereto by a hinge a and made with a central hole or aperture.

The strip or piece 13 has a longitudinal groove, as indicatedjby dotted lines in Fig. 2

and in section in Fig. 3,and has near oneend a Fig. 2 and in section in Fig. 4, andalso ametallic flapc, secured thereto ,bythe hinge c and made with the central perforation.

The strip orv (piece D has a longitudinal groove, as indicated bythe dotted lines in Fig. 2 and in section in Fig. 3, and at or near one end it has the metallic flap d, secured thereto by the hinge d and half as wide as said strip and made with a central perforation.

The strip A has two posts or lugs a and a. The strip B has the post 12 The strip Chas the post 0 and the strip D has the post 612.

The detail of the construction whereby the strips or side pieces are fastened together is shown in Fig. 5, where it is seen that the strip G has a post 0 which passes through the hole or aperture in the flap b of the strip or side 13 and whose outer end is threaded for the reception of a nut E. By this contrivance (or by any other suitable means) the four strips or sides A, B, O, and l) are rigidly secured together, making a firm rectangular frame. The connections at eachof the corners shown Fig. 5.

A rubber bag or pan F, made of thin rubber sheeting,'constitutes the bottom of the receptacle. Its sides turn up and cover the ex terior surface of the strips A B O D, and a rubber cord G, which is preferably united to said rubber pan, but which may beseparate therefrom, is stretched tightly and presses A in the drawings is the same as illustrated in the edge of the sides of the rubber pan .into 5 the longitudinal grooves of the four strips A, B, O, and D, thereby making the whole apparatus water-tight, and yet with a'fienible bottom. Opening into one side of this rubber pan is a discharge-pipe H, which is preferably about four inches in diameter and fifteen inches long and serves to allow the fluid contents of the pan or receptacle to flow off into a pail or vessel on the floor beside or under the bed.

There are three strap-holders upon three of the sides of the receptacle, (indicated as I, J, and K, respectively,) each riveted or otherwise secured to the adjacent side or strip, such riveting being shown in Figs. 1 and l. The holder I has its outer portion terminating in a knob or bent end (not shown) to prevent the strap from slipping therefrom. The

holder J has flanges 011 its opposite edges, be-

tween which the strip presses, and the channel so formed is chamfered or inclined. The holder K is provided with a buckle 76, hinged thereto. (See Fig. 4.)

The apparatus is held in position by means of the straps L, M, and N. The strap L passes around the outer post of the strap-holder I and through the safety-pin Z, which is thrust through the bedding or into the bed-tick. When this strap L is drawn tight and buckled, as seen in Fig. 1, the projecting part a of the side strip A is pressed into the buttock, as illustrated in said figure. The strap M passes over the strap-holder J between the flanges thereof and is buckled firmly around the under thigh of the patient as she lies upon her side. The strap N has a loop on its inner end, through which a safety-pin n is secured, said pin being thrust into the bedding or tick, as illustrated by dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2. The outer end of the strap N passes through the buckle It and is drawn tight. The action of the three straps L, M, and N is to hold the receptacle firmly in place upon the bed and especially to press the edge of the flange or lip on of the side piece A into the flesh, as shown in Fig. 1. The receptacle so placed serves to receive the placenta and to catch and convey through the flexible tube into a pail or vessel on the floor beside the bed on which the parturient woman lies all of the water and bloody fluids which. flow from her during and soon after her labor.

The straps are preferably made of webbing, and as the posts of the strap-holders stand out at some distance from the side strips they do not interfere with the edges of said rubber pan, and the rubber pan can readily be attached and detached.

The flaps are hinged to the side strips to enable them to fold against the adjacent side or strip in order to pack closely; but instead of said flaps a rigid flange or projecting piece of metal may be cast or bent to serve as a fastening means in connection with screws or other devices, as may be desired.

The whole apparatus can be easily taken apart and packed closely together, thus enabling the physician to carry it in his obstetric-bag, together with the rest of his outfit. The invention is very useful, because it allows the application of antiseptic solutions in unlimited quantities. The patient is but little exposed and is subject to little or no disturbance or fatigue, while the bedding and clothing are protected from stains or discolorations, because all fluids and substances passing from the woman are wholly received and conveyed away, as above described.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. The combination of a frame, made of a number of detachable strips, with means of fastening the same together, one of which strips has an opening, a rubber pan having a flexible discharge pipe passing therefrom through said opening, and provided with upturned edges, which surround said frame, on the outside thereof, a groove around said frame on its outer surface, an elastic cord adapted to force the sides of said rubber pan into said groove, and straps connected to said frame and provided with means to secure them to proper supports to hold the apparatus in position, relatively to the patient and bed, substantially as described.

2. In an obstetrical apparatus, the combination of a rubber pan, a number of strips adapted to stiffen the sides of said pan and provided with means to connect said pan and strips together, a hinged flap on each of said strips adapted to lie in close contact with the strip, when the apparatus is not in use, but attachable, when turned at an angle thereto, to engage with a fastening device from the adjacent strip for the purpose of constituting said strips a rigid frame to support said pan, substantially as described.

3. In an obstetrical apparatus, a combination of I a rubber pan, a number of strips adapted to stiffen the sides of said pan and provided with means to connect said pan and strips together, a piece projecting at or near the end of each strip at an angle thereto and adapted to engage with the adjacent strip by a suitable fastening device for the purpose of constituting said strips a rigid frame tosupport said pan, substantially as specified.

4. In an obstetrical apparatus, a combination of a rubber pan, a number of strips adapted to stiffen the sides of said pan and provided with means to connect said sides and pan together, a hinged flap on each of said strips adapted to lie in close contact with the strips, when the apparatus is not in use, but attachable, when turned at an angle thereto, to engage with a fastening device from the adjacent strip for the purpose of constituting said strips a rigid frame to support said pan and straps connected with said strips and adapted to be attached to proper supports to hold said apparatus in position, relatively to the patient and bed, substantially as described.

5. In an obstetrical apparatus, the combination of a rubber pan, a number of strips adapted to stiffen the sides of said pan and provided with means to connect said pan and strips together, apiece projecting at or near the end of each strip, at an angle thereto, and adapted to engage with the adjacent strip by a suitable fastening device for the purpose of constituting said strips a rigid frame to support said pan, and straps connected With said strips and adapted to be attached to proper supports to hold said apparatus in position, relatively to the patient and bed, substantially as shown.

6. In an obstetrical apparatus, having a rubber pan and strips to stiffen the same, a

flange upon the top of one of said strips having a curved edge to conform to the portion of the patients body With which it is intended to lie in contact, substantially as set forth.

7. Theimproved obstetrical apparatus here- .jection on the top of one of said strips, and

straps upon said strap-holders With means of attachment to the bed and the body of the patient, and buckles to fasten said straps in position, substantially as specified.

CHARLES SHERMAN SMITH.

Witnesses:

HORACE SWAN, WARREN R. PERcE. 

